After much anticipation, WF has released the first School Rumble San Gakki OVA. While this is listed as Episode 25, it is one of two OVA episodes that are being bundled with the last two volumes of the School Rumble manga series in Japan.

Episode 26, which is expected to be the conclusion of the series, is scheduled to be out in September. Right now, there is no confirmation that "Episodes 1 - 24" will ever be produced. There is a summary of the episodes on the official School Rumble website, but it's in Japanese.

I would like to give a special thanks to 4cat, TruePsyche, Swampstorm, terrukallan and everyone who worked on the show. Also to azrael, Hinatanko, Keitaromangas, DreadWingKnight and our QC team for their support. Finally, everyone needs to join me in thanking SOzuken - our fearless leader. This group would not exist if it weren't for him and his affection for the School Rumble universe.

I will answer some Frequently Asked Questions in the forum discussion below.

FAQ #1:Didn’t Wannabe Fansubs say that they were dropping School Rumble?

No, WF has never said that... AniDB currently has our status on School Rumble 2nd Term as “stalled,” which is pretty much true. WF had a shake-up a few years ago and went on hiatus for a while, but there are now new members of the staff (including myself) and we are back in business. What more do you people want?! We just released an OVA!

When we will finish School Rumble 2nd Term and at what pace we release the episodes cannot yet be determined. The only thing that I can tell you is that we would like to continue working on the series, since everyone on staff is a fan of the show.

FAQ #2:When will Episodes 1 - 24 be produced?

QUOTE(Foressense @ Jul 28 2008, 08:26 PM)

If they never animate 1-24, I will forever feel robbed.

As I said above, there is no confirmation on their status. It is my personal opinion that they probably won’t be produced. After all, it takes time and money to set up production for an anime series. I think we would have heard something by now if a deal was in the works. I freely admit that I could be wrong, however. Terru certainly doesn’t agree with me:

QUOTE(terrukallan @ Jul 24 2008, 04:32 PM)

Where have you heard there's not going to be a third season? Unless you have some information that I don't, I think it's far too soon to conclude that it is not happening.

If this OVA turns out to be hugely popular – i.e. making a lot of money – the studio might decide that it would be a worthy investment. YOU can help by BUYING official School Rumble media and merchandise. We live in a material world and studios don’t produce media for free, so put your money where your mouth is.

FAQ #3:What else is on the DVD for the 3rd Term OVA?

In addition to Episode 25, the DVD has two special features. One of these is a 30-minute discussion involving Koshimizu Ami (the voice of Tenma), Noto Mamiko (the voice of Yakumo), and Kobayashi Jin (creator of the series). I would highly recommend you BUY THE DVD to see it!

The other special feature is a review of what would have happened in Episodes 1-24 if they had been produced. It features the pictures from the manga listed on the website I linked to above, with narrators that take about one minute per “episode” to describe what was happening.

If there is enough fan interest, we may look into subbing these special features in the future. Let us know what you think on our forums.

FAQ #4:Is this the end of School Rumble?

Things are certainly wrapping up! There is still the OVA to be released in September, but as most of you know Kobayashi has ended the School Rumble manga series with the close of Class 2-C’s second year in High School.

The good news is that there will be a sequel manga series called “School Rumble Z.” It seems that there haven’t been many details confirmed about this series yet, just that it will be premiering later this year. I’m sure if you hang around the Wannabe Forums, you will find out information as it becomes available.

First of all, thanks for subbing this episode. Unfortunately, I won't watch it till the manga catches up in Germany (only a matter of years ^^') or they they really start producing the missing 24 episodes.

QUOTE(Nemo @ Jul 30 2008, 02:11 PM)

If this OVA turns out to be hugely popular – i.e. making a lot of money – the studio might decide that it would be a worthy investment. YOU can help by BUYING official School Rumble media and merchandise. We live in a material world and studios don’t produce media for free, so put your money where your mouth is.

It's a little bit strange with this OVA. If they want to test how many people are still interested in this show, then it is strange that the Lim. Edition is not really widely available (at least for international customers). It is now longer new available for weeks at amazon.co.jp, and I can only find it at yesasia.com (where I got my version). Perhaps it really was a hit in Japan, and they are now planning a real 3rd season....but I don't have any figures how well it was sold in Japan. At least the fansubbing scene was interested, because, if I remember correctly, WF is now the third group that subbed it. From a commercial stand point I think that it would make sense to produce another season, because I doubt that School Rumble is very expensive show to produce and it also seems to sell well outside Japan, and they seem not to have problems with the staff, because we got the OVA from the same people (as far as I know).

It's strange that at the end of the year a DVD Box with the Season 1 and 2 and the first 2 OVAS will be released in Japan (I will preorder it when it appears on amazon.co.jp). On CDJapan.co.jp they say that it includes 54 episodes...so no Sangakki epsiodes. For a complete package they should also add Ep. 25 and 26 of Sangakki....oh, I think there's room for interpretation in a good and in a bad way^^

QUOTE(Nemo @ Jul 30 2008, 02:11 PM)

FAQ #3:What else is on the DVD for the 3rd Term OVA?

In addition to Episode 25, the DVD has two special features. One of these is a 30-minute discussion involving Koshimizu Ami (the voice of Tenma), Noto Mamiko (the voice of Yakumo), and Kobayashi Jin (creator of the series). I would highly recommend you BUY THE DVD to see it!

The other special feature is a review of what would have happened in Episodes 1-24 if they had been produced. It features the pictures from the manga listed on the website I linked to above, with narrators that take about one minute per “episode” to describe what was happening.

If there is enough fan interest, we may look into subbing these special features in the future. Let us know what you think on our forums.

I'm really interested in this interview because I found the interview on the old OVA very interesting and fun to watch (Funimation was nice enough to put it on the DVD). So you now have at least one fan interested and I'm a fan who also bought large amounts of School Rumble stuff^^.

Nakamura: Are you associating with any lady at the present time?Harima: If I were, I wouldn't have to go through this much trouble, would I?

It's a little bit strange with this OVA. If they want to test how many people are still interested in this show, then it is strange that the Lim. Edition is not really widely available (at least for international customers). It is now longer new available for weeks at amazon.co.jp, and I can only find it at yesasia.com (where I got my version). Perhaps it really was a hit in Japan, and they are now planning a real 3rd season....but I don't have any figures how well it was sold in Japan.

Keep in mind that most Japanese animation companies don't really care about an international audience. They produce a product for the Japanese market primarily; it's only an extra bonus that international audiences are interested as well.

Amazon.co.jp, although certainly frequented by international customers is primarily the Japanese face of Amazon. Though I also do not have any sales figures for Japan the fact that it sold out at amazon.co.jp is a good sign.

I also want to give my thanks to WF for the high quality sub! As expected yours is by far the best.I'd love to see the bonus material subbed, since it takes forever till the dvd comes to my area or it never will, when san gakki doesn't get the other 24 episodes. But I know subbing is a big deal of work so I'll just hope you guys are in the mood for it

On a side note:

QUOTE(TMSIDR @ Jul 30 2008, 06:07 PM)

First of all, thanks for subbing this episode. Unfortunately, I won't watch it till the manga catches up in Germany (only a matter of years ^^') or they they really start producing the missing 24 episodes.

Wow, you're really just reading the german manga? K, I'm buying it, too, but the translation feels a bit rushed at times. I'm also lacking the patience xD'' I just reread it in german.*roughly calculating* We're currently at Vol. 15, the next volume is released every 3 months, 7 Volumes to go, so a year and 7 months to wait for the last bit of manga

I also want to give my thanks to WF for the high quality sub! As expected yours is by far the best.I'd love to see the bonus material subbed, since it takes forever till the dvd comes to my area or it never will, when san gakki doesn't get the other 24 episodes. But I know subbing is a big deal of work so I'll just hope you guys are in the mood for it

On a side note:Wow, you're really just reading the german manga? K, I'm buying it, too, but the translation feels a bit rushed at times. I'm also lacking the patience xD'' I just reread it in german.*roughly calculating* We're currently at Vol. 15, the next volume is released every 3 months, 7 Volumes to go, so a year and 7 months to wait for the last bit of manga

yes, I'm patient^^., but I check Townsocks translation when I think the German version sounds strange.

Nakamura: Are you associating with any lady at the present time?Harima: If I were, I wouldn't have to go through this much trouble, would I?

1) Those who search will only do so in vain. What cannot be found may no longer exist. There is only one true path to follow. Can you find it?2) Deep within the illusions of a dark desire, the footprints left behind carry memories of a lost love. Can you see it?3) Traveling in opposite directions, a masked storm is fast approaching. Can you feel it?4) The battle between order and chaos. Can you remember it?5) The end of the road. Can you believe it?

Perhaps this is why I am an Editor... but to me, the most important part of enjoying an anime is having quality subtitles. I need to have things that sound natural and make sense... to have a good "flow" that doesn't seem disjointed. Most of all, if I imagine the characters saying these things in my head, it needs to believably be something they would say. As for video quality, I don't need it to be DVD-quality... but a nice font and stylization for signs is always good.

That is what I look for when I watch fan-subs. So to have someone else tell me that I helped produce a good-quality episode makes me feel great.

1) Those who search will only do so in vain. What cannot be found may no longer exist. There is only one true path to follow. Can you find it?2) Deep within the illusions of a dark desire, the footprints left behind carry memories of a lost love. Can you see it?3) Traveling in opposite directions, a masked storm is fast approaching. Can you feel it?4) The battle between order and chaos. Can you remember it?5) The end of the road. Can you believe it?